Chapter 464

Under Jake's guidance, Daniel got involved in a bunch of schemes to better himself.

Word spread fast around the neighborhood about Jake's efforts to turn Daniel's life around, and soon everyone was curious and offering their two cents.

At first, Jake struggled to figure out how to help Daniel improve, but eventually, he took all the community's suggestions to heart. Slowly but surely, a kinder version of Daniel started to emerge.

Two weeks later, it was time for Daniel to say goodbye to the neighborhood.

Not because he had turned into a good guy, but because he needed to help an elderly resident fix their roof and didn't have the tools he needed anywhere else.

As Daniel drove away, two gang members sat in the back of his car.

Their job was to keep an eye on Daniel and make sure he stayed out of trouble.

Daniel stared straight ahead at the road, buckled up, hands gripping the wheel, following every traffic law to the letter. Even his feet were cuffed with an electronic tracker.

Ironically, it was the gang members who had put the monitor on him, to track his movements and prevent any escape attempts.

Feeling numb, Daniel sometimes wondered if things would be better if his wife had accused him of something serious. Maybe in prison, he wouldn't face such harsh treatment or be forced into community service. At least there, no one would whip him.

The only comfort for Daniel lately was being allowed to snore while he slept, a small mercy granted by the sympathetic residents who felt sorry for him.

Daniel felt no gratitude, worn out from all the demanding tasks he was given.

Disguised as efforts to reform him, the residents had him doing all sorts of chores for free-from mowing lawns and fixing fountains to babysitting and dog-walking.

Daniel suspected there might be some payoff for his hard work, remembering a homeowner slipping money to one of Jake's crew after Daniel had finished repairing their roof.

But he didn't dare complain, knowing it would only lead to punishment.

Daniel's mind was foggy, having gone without drinking or smoking for two weeks. Though tough at first, he was starting to feel more alert.

Suddenly, Daniel hit the brakes. The two gang members in the back jolted in their seats, shooting him angry looks.

"What the hell, Daniel, why'd you stop?" one of them snapped.

Daniel pointed ahead. "There's an old lady crossing the street. I should wait for her, being a good guy and all."

Seeing the slow-moving senior, the gang members couldn't argue with Daniel's logic this time.

But Daniel's sudden stop caused a traffic jam, and some drivers, unaware of the situation, started honking like crazy.

The street turned into a mess.

"Come on, you idiot! Learn how to drive! If your car's busted, move it and stop blocking everyone. Get out of here," a driver yelled.

Daniel's bottled-up emotions flared. He wanted to confront the driver but got a slap on the head from one of the gang members.

"Good guys don't argue, Daniel," the gang member warned sharply.

Daniel eyed the whip in the man's hand and sighed in defeat.

Just then, another driver lost his patience and got out of his car, striding over to Daniel's vehicle. He knocked on the window, scowling, and shouted, "Can you even drive?"

Seeing the driver's spit on the windshield, Daniel wanted to argue but held back.

Pointing to the slow-moving elderly person, Daniel shot the guy a helpless look. "I'd love to move, but I should wait for this lady. Thinking about her safety, you know, being a good guy."

The two gang members nodded. "Yeah, he's a good guy, no doubt."

The guy saw the elderly person and realized Daniel was an easy target for his frustration. So, he unleashed his anger on the unsuspecting Daniel.

"You punk! Step out so I can vent on you," the man growled and started getting aggressive.

Daniel sighed and turned to the gang members. "Can I punch him, please?"

The gang members exchanged a look and shook their heads. "Good guys don't throw punches, but you can call the cops."

Daniel felt like he might explode.

Finally, Daniel opened the car door and stepped out.

As soon as he did, the enraged driver pushed him to the ground and started hitting him.

Daniel could only shield his vital parts and endure the blows. When the gang members in the car couldn't bear it anymore, fearing for Daniel's life and their mission, they leaped out and gave the attacker a good beating.

"He's the good guy, not us! You almost messed up everything, you jerk," the gang members yelled as they fought back.

The commotion brought all traffic to a halt, with drivers pulling out their phones to capture the drama.

Daniel got up from the ground, glanced at the slow-moving elderly person, and sighed.

"Let it go, I'm a good guy. I'll keep trying to be one!" Tears of shame streamed down Daniel's face as he walked over to the elderly lady.

"Ma'am, let me introduce myself. I'm Daniel, a good guy. Let me help you cross the street," Daniel said, tears and a smile mingling as he swiftly guided the old lady across the road.

Unbeknownst to Daniel, Amelia had witnessed the entire incident.